ISU Dedicates New Basketball Practice Facility

AMES, Iowa — The lead gift for the new Iowa State University Basketball Complex, one of the nation’s finest collegiate basketball practice facilities, was announced during dedication ceremonies held Friday, Oct. 16.

Iowa State President Gregory L. Geoffroy announced a lead gift pledged by the Sukup family of Sheffield, Iowa, including Eugene and Mary Sukup and sons Charles (’76 & ’82 agricultural engineering) and Steve (’79 industrial engineering). Eugene and Mary are the founders of Sukup Manufacturing Co., the world’s largest family-owned grain bin manufacturer, whose production line now includes grain dryers, farm and commercial grain bins, bucket elevators and material conveying systems.

The facility, located off-campus in west Ames, will be named the Sukup Basketball Complex, pending approval of the Board of Regents, State of Iowa.

“One of the strengths of the Cyclone athletics program is its alumni and fan loyalty. Without them this fantastic new facility for basketball would not have been possible,” Geoffroy said. “We are very fortunate to have the Sukup family so firmly in the Cyclone camp and are extremely grateful for the family’s incredible generosity.”

“This new Basketball Complex builds on the quality of the athletics programs at Iowa State and the positive role that intercollegiate athletics can play for the university in its goals of excellence,” said Charles Sukup.

“Iowa State athletics has been a great source of pride and enjoyment for our family,” Steve Sukup said. “The department has a family feel from all their coaches, and we revel in the opportunity to support a first-class complex for our men’s and women’s basketball programs.”

The 37,000-square-foot, $8 million facility offers all of the amenities a program needs to attract top recruits. Both the men’s and women’s basketball programs have 24-hour access to their own regulation size court in addition to two smaller cross courts. Each side is decorated with giant murals depicting memorable moments in the programs’ history. Banners of NCAA Championship and conference title teams are also proudly displayed on the wall.

“But, more importantly, the structure provides the current student-athletes and coaching staff an outstanding fully-equipped practice area to call home,” said Jamie Pollard, ISU athletics director.

On the lower level of the facility, each team has its own team/lounge area including computer workstations with internet access. Adjacent to the team lounges, both programs share a training center with taping stations, self-contained whirlpools and treatment tables to fully accommodate any rehabilitation or treatment demands.

The training center also includes a fully equipped weight room and access to a treadmill and elliptical machine. Locker rooms for both teams are also found on the first floor.

The coaches’ offices for the Cyclone men’s and women’s basketball programs are housed on the second floor of the facility. Included on the second floor is a balcony video deck overlooking each court, video editing rooms, and a theater room, which will be used by both teams.

This gift is part of Campaign Iowa State: With Pride and Purpose, the university’s $800 million fundraising effort. More than $715 million in gifts and future commitments for facilities and student, faculty and programmatic support have been made to Campaign Iowa State.